'A second journey through Persia, Armenia, and Asia Minor, to Constantinople, between the years 1810 and 1816. With a journal of the voyage by the Brazils and Bombay to the Persian Gulf. Together with an account of the proceedings of His Majesty's embassy under Sir Gore Ouseley, Bart. K.L.S. With two maps, and engravings from the designs of the author.' [‎136] (175/516)

jgg ISPAHAN.
great luxury. In Turkey, indeed, the vanity of some people is such,
that when the building is in itself a small one, they will budd a gate to
it large enough for a palace ; but they generally finish by pajing dear
for their ostentation. He that exalteth Ms gate seeketh destruction, said
the wise King. (Proverbs, xvii. 19.)
- The houses of Ispahan are one story in height, but are composed of
so many compartments, that even the meanest of them occupy a consi
derable area; for the extent that we occupy in our high houses, is in
Persia laid out horizontally. They are built either of earth or brick,
and their uniformity in height and colour produces a very dull appear
ance when seen collectively.
The bazars are very extensive, and it is possible to walk under cover
in them for two or three miles together. The trades are here collected
in separate bodies, which makes it very convenient to purchasers ; and
indeed we may from analogy suppose the same to have been the case
from the most ancient times, when we consider the command of Zede-
kiahto feed Jeremiah from the " baker s street " (Jeremiah, xxxvii. 21.)
To a stranger, the bazars are the most amusing place of resort; for
here is a continual concourse of people, in which characters of all de
scriptions, each busied in their different avocations, are seen to pass in
rotation. Many of the scenes, so familiar to us in the Arabian Nights,
are here realised. The young Christian merchant; the lady of quality
riding on a mule, attended by her eunuch and her she-slave; the
Jewish physician ; the dalal, or crier, showing goods about; the barber
Alnascar, sitting with his back against the wall in a very little shop,
and thus almost every character may be met with. The Mollahs, or
men of the law, are generally to be seen riding about on mules; and
they also account it a dignity, and suited to their character, to ride on
white asses *, which is a striking illustration of what we read in Judges,
v. 10. Speak ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment.
On Fridays, their day of rest, the bazars are more particularly
.
fhcsB asses come fi oni Ai <il)iR . their scarcity rnnkes them vftlucible, cind ^ives them
consequence. See Harmar, vol. ii. p. 376.